Allergies

Do you have problems with frequent nasal dripping or congestion, often more in the morning and/or evening?  Do you have occasional (or frequent) morning sore throats, daytime dry coughs?  Do you sneeze?  Do your eyes, ears, nose, or throat itch?  Do you feel tired but are mostly able to function? Do these symptoms seem to happen at about the same time each year (or any time, all year round)?

You may be experiencing allergies (or "hay fever").

What are allergies?

Allergies are sensitivities to certain substances called "allergens."  When you come into contact with allergens to which you are sensitive, a reaction is triggered.  You may sneeze, and/or your nose may be profusely runny.  The medical term for nasal allergy symptoms is "allergic rhinitis."

Indoor allergens such as animal dander, feather pillows or down comforters, molds, dust mites, or cockroaches can trigger "perennial allergies," meaning that the symptoms are year-round.

Outdoor allergens such as pollens from trees, grass, wildflowers, weeds, or molds can trigger "seasonal allergies" and often are at their worst in the spring.

There is no certain way to know what is causing your allergies unless you have testing done by an allergist, but from experience, you may have a pretty good idea of cause and effect.

Managing allergies

The key to managing allergies is to avoid the offending (suspected or proven) allergens whenever possible.

For indoor allergens, this may mean:

·       Washing bedding weekly in hot water (at or over 130° F)

·       Using a HEPA-type air cleaner in the bedroom

·       Removing pets

·       Getting a new pillow or comforter - without feathers

·       Vacuum frequently and dust with a damp or oiled cloth

For outdoor allergens, this may mean:

·       Keeping windows and doors closed and using air conditioning

·       Showering or bathing and changing your clothes after outdoor activities

·       Staying indoors more and minimizing outdoor activity during peak pollen periods

·       Drying your clothes in a vented dryer - not hanging them outside to dry

Allergy Medications

There are several OTC (over-the-counter) medications that are available to treat allergies.  Oral agents are called "antihistamines," which help control the amount of histamine (the substance causing symptoms) released by cells when stimulated by the offending allergens.  

Over The Counter agents include:

·       Loratidine ("Claritin")

·       Nasal chromolyn ("Nasalcrom") – which is a nasal spray (and does not work immediately)

·       Chlorpheniramine maleate ("Chlortrimeton") - makes about 10-20% people sleepy, but can be  combined with pseudoephedrine ("Sudafed") to offset drowsiness                       

·       Diphenhydramine ("Benadryl") - makes most people really tired, so is best reserved for bedtime.

Prescription agents include:

·       Fexofenadine ("Allegra")

·       Ceftirizine ("Zyrtec")

·       Fluticasone nasal spray ("Flonase")

·       Beclomethasone nasal spray ("Beconase AQ")

It is best to use allergy medicines every day if you have perennial allergies.  If you have a seasonal problem, it is best to start your medicines just prior to the season(s) which affect you.   See your practitioner early if you need refills.  It takes about 4-7 days of constant use to bring about maximum effectiveness of allergy medicines.

How do I know I have allergies or just a cold?

If you are experiencing allergy symptoms or are unsure whether you are having cold symptoms or allergies (they often mimic each other!), always drink more fluids and get more rest.  It won't hurt to take your allergy medicines if you have a cold, and they actually may help, as allergies often play a part in cold symptoms.  If allergies are really severe, sometimes a referral to an allergist is necessary. The allergists in Santa Barbara are busy, and people sometimes have to make their appointments two months in advance.  Allergists can do skin tests to determine what allergens are the offending ones and can offer desensitizing injections (called antigens).  These injections are given in frequent intervals, often over several years, with mostly favorable results.  Once they are ordered by the allergist, we can administer antigen injections at Student Health.

Every practitioner at Student Health has experience treating allergies and can help you with questions you may have.